Several years ago, I was a loyal Body Shop user. I swore by the Japanese Washing Grains and the Passion Fruit Cleansing Gel. Then my skin became sensitive and I couldn't use those products anymore. At the same time my skin changed, I discovered Garden Botanika, and my Body Shop loyalty faded away.

It wasn't until the weather started changing from summer to fall that I thought about The Body Shop again. They had just come out with some new skin care products called Face Value, and I was looking for a new fall/winter routine. Why not give it a shot?

Much to my surprise, after talking to a Body Shop employee about my skin, she offered me a sample kit to try at home, complete with every step of the routine. Since my skin type is changing, I got one kit for normal-to-oily, and one for normal-to-dry skin.

Balancing Cleansing Gel for Normal to Oily Skin ($9 for 6.76oz)
I think if it were the beginning of summer and I needed a good gel cleanser, this one is great. If your skin is oily all year round, this cleanser takes off all your makeup, isn't drying, and doesn't sting your eyes. For me, my skin gets drier in the fall and throughout the winter, so this product was a bit too drying.

Equalizing Freshener for Normal to Oily & Oily Skin ($8 for 6.76oz)
I was amazed that my face did not react badly to this product, because it is mostly alcohol and witch hazel, both of which I tend to react to. If your skin is oily all the time, this toner may be good, but it's hard for me to recommend something with mostly alcohol and witch hazel.

Light Moisture Lotion for Normal to Oily Skin ($16 for 3.38oz)
I seriously considered buying this product. It is a nice light lotion that I think is best served for combination skin. Since winter is just around the corner, I decided I need something a bit more emollient than this. If your skin is more combination or slightly normal-to-oily, this lotion would be a good choice. The only thing missing is a sunscreen...

Exfoliating Lotion for All Skin Types ($9 for 6.76oz)
I definitely did not like this toner. The label says it is for all skin types, but I have to disagree. It is basically a low grade AHA type product with alcohol and witch hazel thrown in. Just about every ingredient in there can make your face red and dried out. Unless your skin is really strong, avoid this toner and choose a more skin-friendly AHA product.

Foaming Cleansing Cream for Normal to Dry Skin ($9 for 6.7oz)
After testing this cleanser both in the morning, and after a full day of work and a full face of makeup, I decided it was the winner in my search for a fall/winter cleanser. Not only did it take off all my makeup, it left my face feeling comfortable and normal - imagine that! If your skin is mostly normal with a hint of dryness, this cleanser is a great choice. It rinses off easily with just water and doesn't feel greasy at all. You also need to use very little, so the bottle should last a long time.

Hydrating Freshener for Normal to Dry & Dry Skin ($8 for 6.76oz)
I think this has to be the best toner/freshener I have ever used. It smells really nice, is really soothing, and it didn't irritate my face at all. For a long time I thought toners/fresheners were an unnecessary step, but this one definitely changed my mind.

Hydrating Moisture Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin ($13 for 3.38oz)
Yet another winner in my fall/winter skin care search! This is a nice lotion that absorbs quickly and isn't greasy or heavy. This is probably best for someone with truly normal-to-dry skin since it is not emollient enough for very dry skin. This one is missing sunscreen, too, so you'll have to get that from a separate product or your foundation.

Intense Moisture Mask
Between autumn and winter, when the chilly weather has settled in, and winter wind and snow are just around the corner, my favorite face-saver product is a moisturizing treatment mask. I think a good one has to be both moisturizing and soothing, so I was delighted to find this mask really does the job. The gel formula takes just five minutes to work its magic, and it doesn't leave a greasy film on your face.

review: 11/96

Brow and Lash Gel ($7)
After learning how to use shadow and an angled brush to make my brows look fit and polished, having a gel like this to hold them in place is a real help. This clear gel is handy for brows as well as lashes, either under or instead of mascara. Many other lines make a brow gel like this, but I think this one is a great choice at a very reasonable price.

Eyebrow Makeup ($8)
For an all-in-one eyebrow kit, this compact has everything you need. The waxy powder comes in three colors (light, medium, and dark) in a refillable compact with a mirror and an angled brush. What more could you want?

review: 4/97