If you like Peter Thomas Roth products, here's a new, more indulgent line to try from the creators of PTR. June Jacobs is the co-founder and president of Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care, and now she brings her experience and vision to her own spa line. The collection is complete with facial skin care, body care, hair care and scented candles. There are three formulas of most of the products: citrus for combination and oily skin, cucumber for mature and sensitive skin, and cranberry for normal to dry skin. I opted for the cranberry, starting with some body products and hopefully adding skin care in the near future.

Cranberry Cleansing Bar ($18 for 5oz bar)
I'm not normally a bar soap user but this one lathers nicely, rinses clean away, and has a subtle, fruity and tart cranberry scent that I've really enjoyed using. This is a large bar, French milled so it will last a long time. If you are a bar soap user, I think you will enjoy the unique fragrance of this one.

Cranberry Purifying Shower Gel ($24 for 7 oz)
A shower gel that I can use with a puff or loofah, in this great tart fragrance, is more my speed. It takes several pumps on a puff to work up a nice lather, but I think the scent makes it worthwhile. This gel is labeled for all skin types, but don't expect a lot of moisture from it; that's where the body balm comes in for those of you with dry skin.

Cranberry Body Balm ($44 for 7 oz)
This rich lotion is a nice finish after using the cleanser of your choice, and while it does add an extra layer of fragrance, it's not overpowering. It moistures with jojoba oil, shea butter, sesame oil, rose hips oil, sunflower seed oil, and squalane, plus some unusual ingredients like artichoke extract and babassu oil. One thing I find interesting in this collection is that the cranberry scent does not come from an extract or oil, but is simply listed as "fragrance". Maybe real cranberries don't smell as nice as a manufactured scent...

June Jacobs Spa Collection are available at The Peninsula Spa in New York (700 Fifth Avenue, phone 212-903-3910), Apothia at Fred Segal in California (check Apothia.com for locations), Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, AZ (phone 1-800-24-CAMEL), and online at eBodyTreatments.com and WhosTheFairest.com. You can also call the company's toll free number, 1-866-JUNE-JAC. Other products in the line include face and body masks, facial moisturizers and sunscreen, scrubs and body polishes, and specialty hand and foot treatments.

review: 3/02

Creamy Cranberry Cleanser ($36 for 7oz)
This is a lotion cleanser best suited to normal to dry or dry skin. It does a fair job of removing makeup, but not great. It can't get tough mascara off, and the long wearing foundations need a little extra elbow grease, so I've moved this cleanser from the sink to the shower so I just use it in the morning. While I love the cranberry scent, I would not spend $36 on a cleanser that doesn't remove all of my makeup.

Cranberry Hydrating Toner ($36 for 7oz)
On an average day, I am not a toner user. I find it to be an extra step that has little or no value for my skin. This one is a basic glycerin-based toner with some nice goodies like carrot seed oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil. The oils are a nice idea, but did nothing remarkable for my dry skin.

Cranberry Conditioning Shampoo ($22 for 7oz)
Have you had enough cranberry yet? :) If you just can't stop at skin care, this a decent gentle shampoo with aloe, wheat protein, and of course cranberry extract. I wouldn't call it particularly conditioning, but I think only fairly dry hair like mine would be unsatisfied.

Creamy Cranberry Conditioner ($24 for 7oz)
After finding Vidal Sassoon Moisturizing Daily Therapy (reviewed here), all other conditioners I try pale in comparison. For my fine, dry hair, snarls and endless frizz are a daily battle without a conditioner (and styling products) that really smooth my hair completely. While this conditioner is nice, it's really best suited to normal hair that doesn't require much detangling; I needed what seemed like a gallon to make even a remote difference for my hair.

June Jacobs Spa Collection are available at The Peninsula Spa in New York (700 Fifth Avenue, phone 212-903-3910), Apothia at Fred Segal in California (check Apothia.com for locations), Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, AZ (phone 1-800-24-CAMEL), and online at eBodyTreatments.com and WhosTheFairest.com. You can also call the company's toll free number, 1-866-JUNE-JAC, and learn more at JuneJacobs.com.