Ah, summer in the Midwest! With the temperature hovering close to 95 degrees every day with 90% humidity, comfort is something we Ohioans won't be seeing until the end of September. Summer is also the time that I am on the road with my job more than usual (I'm writing this review in a hotel room in Evansville, IN - ah, the glamour of it all), so I need something that will be travel-friendly and easy to pack. With this in mind, I was interested in a "less is more" skincare regimen. When my wonderful Mary Kay rep, Jackie Learn (if you don't have an MK rep, shoot Jackie an email at mkjackie@columbus.rr.com), sent me some samples of their new Timewise skincare line, I was eager to see if this pared-down duo would work for me.

Cleanse. Exfoliate. Freshen. This is the promise of Timewise 3 in 1 Cleanser. This lightweight, gentle cream cleanser contains microbeads, which give it the perfect extra dose of ooomph needed to really clean oilier summer skin. This cleanser also contains all sorts of little extras: antioxidant benefits from vitamin E, firming action from Retinyl Palmitate (a vitamin A derivative), and a host of botanicals to brighten.

I was a little worried about using it to take off my eye makeup (because of the microbeads) but this cleanser is so gentle, I found my fears were quickly put to rest - it didn't even sting! I loved this product! It cleaned my skin thoroughly, leaving it smooth and soft, without being dry or oily. At $18 for 4.5 ounces, it's also quite the bargain, considering you won't need a toner or additional exfoliant. With such a great cleansing experience, I was eager to try the moisturizer!

Timewise Age-Fighting Moisturizer promises to firm and soften your complexion, as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines with a patent-pending complex...

Sigh. Indulge me while I go off on a small tangent. Aging is a fact of life, and honestly, I LOVE the character a woman's face attains as she matures - every crinkle and line is the result of a lifetime of experience and wisdom. Beauty comes in all types of packages, not just the 19-year-old, size two, surly, socialite-supermodel one, ok? If you live that truth every day, you'll find that you won't obsess over the little crows feet and laugh lines!

With this in mind, I look for a moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated, bright, and smooth to the touch, all without any breakouts - anything beyond that tends to be an over-inflated promise. Considering this moisturizer is "clinically proven to hydrate for up to 10 hours," it does exactly what I want it to! It's oil-free, so it absorbs quickly with absolutely no greasy afterfeel. It is a fabulous, lightweight moisturizer for any skin type. My only qualm is that it doesn't contain a sunscreen. Sure, it's easy enough to pat a little oil-free sunblock over this lotion, but again, I'm looking to "lose the steps" in the summer. This considered, I use it at night with great results. At 20$ for 3.3 ounces, it is another great product at a reasonable price.

The final verdict? Don't hesitate to try this hard-working duo from Mary Kay, especially if time is of the essence to you (and when is it not? Heh, sometimes I barely have the energy to wash my face at night, let alone all the other stuff!). These gentle formulas do great things for your complexion, and are easy on the pocketbook, to boot!

review: 7/00