Mary Kay's TimeWise products are designed to appeal to us busy women who are trying to juggle our lives and give our skin the care it needs to prevent and/or reduce signs of aging. TimeWise consists of just two products: 3-in-1 Cleanser, to exfoliate, cleanse, and freshen in just one step, and Age-Fighting Moisturizer that's supposed to reduce fine lines as well as firm and soften skin. Sounds good so far, but both products say they are for all skin types which made me very suspicious!

3-in-1 Cleanser ($18 for 4.5 oz)
I like this cleanser. It's a thick white cream with a small amount of gritty things to provide exfoliation. After massaging the stuff into my skin for a minute, I use a wet washcloth followed by a couple splashes of cool water to remove it. It leaves my skin very soft, and the grit is gentle enough for me - with my combination/oily skin - to use twice a day without my oil glands going into overdrive. (I have to be careful not to over-stimulate my skin or I alone could put an end to the country's oil shortage!) 3-in-1 also passes my other test - it doesn't drip down my face and neck while I'm massaging it in! For added benefit, 3-in-1 Cleanser contains vitamin E for antioxidant effects and vitamin A for firming. I'd definitely recommend this product and will probably buy it again. (For those with very sensitive skin, I would recommend getting a sample from your Mary Kay distributor before buying it.)

Age-Fighting Moisturizer ($20 for 3.3 fl.oz)
This product is fine for a night moisturizer, but it's a little heavy for me to use during the day. I think it would be perfect for drier skin than mine - although it's oil-free, it does hydrate very well. Mary Kay touts the product's botanicals and vitamin E derivatives which are supposed to provide visible anti-aging results, but I think it's essentially just another moisturizer - nothing very special. And my skin feels sticky after applying it. Another very big issue is the absence of sun protection! Get with it, Mary Kay - it doesn't save time if we have to apply a separate product. I won't be buying this again.

Both products can only be purchased from your local Mary Kay distributor. To locate someone near you, go to the Mary Kay web site at marykay.com; there's a handy little distributor locator under the button Shop Online.

review: 7/00