Update: August 17, 1999
I have had too much fun shopping online and am trying not to get carried away! This last installment (for now) is on Four Seasons. Enjoy!

(Click here for my review of eve.com or my review of Bellisima.)

Four Seasons
I heard about Four Seasons from a reader and decided to check it out. They have a decent selection of products including T. Le Clerc, Mason Pearson, Ahava, and Fresh. After browsing around a bit, I decided to get the Aesop Dry Skin Pallette Box ($60) and the coveted T. Le Clerc loose face powder ($45) in Banane.

Aesop Dry Skin Pallette Box
I really liked the Aesop cleanser and moisturizer I got from my last online shopping "spree" at Bellisima, so I wanted to try a few more of their products. The Dry Skin box comes with 30ml travel sizes of Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser, Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream, Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque, Rejuvenate Aromatique Balm, Resurrection Aromatique Balm, and Relax Aromatique Balm. Sounded like a great collection, but I never got to try any of them. After waiting 9 days for my order to arrive, I eagerly opened the package only to find half the lids open, the seals broken, and the contents leaking! I was less than happy.

I called Four Seasons and spoke to the woman who boxed my order to find out about returning or exchanging the products. She said she had actually opened the bottles herself "to make sure they were okay"! She said this box was one of the last they had (Aesop is discontinuing them) and she had had some problems with others being "not so fresh". Needless to say I was not interested in "questionable" products and promptly sent my order back for a refund.

T. Le Clerc loose face powder
As for the powder, I love it but I didn't end up with the container I got from Four Seasons. When I saw what a tiny container 35g really is, I sent it back, too. For $45, I expected something bigger. A few days later I ended up finding the large 115g size at a local salon/store here in Portland for only $57! That was a steal of a deal I couldn't pass up. This is the lightest, silkiest, most "barely there" face powder I have ever tried, and I would definitely buy it again. I am considering dabbling with other colors as the "Banane" sometimes feels a little too yellow, but it does leave an incredibly smooth finish on the skin. I also have had no shine breakthrough whatsoever; my combination skin typically gets a bit shiny in the T-zone by late afternoon. This is a must-have if you are shopping for a new loose powder.

All in all, my experience with Four Seasons makes me want to avoid shopping with them. The online shopping is clumsy and low tech, the wait for an order is longer than I think it should be, and the level of service makes driving 20 miles to the mall sound appealing.