Ole Henriksen products have been recommended to me a few times from readers and from several members of the Cosmetic Connection Product Panel. Ole is considered a facialist to the stars and has an interesting collection of products like Grease Relief Face Tonic, Seven Day Skin Care Transformation Kit, and Truth Serum. I selected the ones that sounded most compelling to me.

Balancing Cucumber Skin Tonic ($18 for 6 ounces)
I enjoyed several Ole products in the past, so this toner was a natural extension to my existing reviews. I chose this one since cooler weather is on the way and my skin dries out quickly as the season's change. Balancing Cucumber Tonic has aloe vera gel, witch hazel extract, chamomile extract, camphor, apricot oil, citrus bioflavonoids, korean ginseng, allantoin, and natural cucumber essence. I found it to be the perfect balance of refreshing and gentle (gentler than the Pick Me Up Tonic reviewed below).

You can find Ole Henriksen products at olehenriksen.com, and at the Ole Henriksen Face/Body spa in Sunset Plaza on West Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.

review: 8/00

Clear and Gentle Primrose Soap ($18 for 3.5 ounces)
I have never been a soap user, but this clear orange soap came highly recommended by both Lisa and Nava of the Cosmetic Connection Product Panel. It's a solid bar encased in a shallow plastic jar with a screw-top lid. You use Ole's Complexion Sponges ($6 for package of 2), dampened, to work up a lather and wash your face. The sponge exfoliates while the soap cleans, so you end up with a fresh, clean and rosy complexion. I found the soap to be gentle and effective at removing makeup, although I chose not to use it around my eyes. It contains botanical extracts of Marigold, Comfrey, Chamomile & Aloe Vera Gel, English Evening Primrose Oil, Glycerine, and vitamins E, A, D & F.

Pick Me Up Face Tonic ($16 for 4 oz, $28 for 12 oz)
I don't always use a toner, but this one is a nice complement to the Primrose Soap. It contains Purified Soft Water, Witch Hazel, Fruit/Plant Phytos of Rose Hips, Blueberry, Blackberry, Peach and Mixed Citrus Extracts, Aloe Vera Gel, Sea Kelp, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Chamomile, Lavender, Vitamin C (Ester-C), Xanthan Gum, Glycerin and Sorbitol (vegetable source), Panthenol, Methylparaben (preservative), and Citric Acid. It has a fruity aroma, feels slightly tingly (sensitive skin users should use caution), and leaves your cheeks rosy and skin smooth. My normal to dry skin reacted just fine. Combined with the complexion sponge and primrose soap, this is all the exfoliation you need.

Roll-On Blemish Attack ($22)
Although I have normal to dry skin, I also get monthly hormonal breakouts along my jawline and on my cheeks (even as I approach 30). I know many of you can identify with this and spend as much time searching for a good blemish treatment as I do. My current favorites have been Sage Miracle Zit and Peter Thomas Roth BPO Gel 5%, but now I think I can add this one to the list. I like the roll-on packaging, which keeps possibly dirty and oily fingers off your face. It combines many popular blemish fighters into one product: Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Bilberry Extract, Sugar Cane Extract, Sugar Maple Extract, Orange Extract, Lemon Medica Extract, Kaolin, Bentonite, Thermal Clay, Zinc Ascorbate, and Tea Tree Oil. It is not for super-sensitive skin - I found for some zits I could only apply it every other day because it's fairly potent. You are also supposed to just use it at night because benzoyl peroxide can make your skin very sensitive in the sun. For the minor pimples I've had, it gets rid of them with two nights of treatment. For larger ones, it takes 3-4 nights.

Vitamin Plus Balancing Creme ($30 for 2 ounce jar)
For my Ole moisturizer, I selected this lightweight cream. It has Aloe Vera Extract, Comfrey, Chamomile, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Witch Hazel, Hazelnut Oil, Apricot Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, NAPCA, Sunscreen (but no indication of SPF, so I used a separate product), Swiss Collagen, Elastin Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Korean Ginseng. Even though it has several oils, it's not at all greasy or heavy. It has just enough moisture for my skin with a refreshing, slightly astringent scent and silky texture. I could see this cream working for any skin type.

You can find Ole Henriksen products at olehenriksen.com, and at the Ole Henriksen Face/Body spa in Sunset Plaza on West Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.

review: 4/00