Sometimes, I need a break from all the multistep skin care lines; Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, etc. Applying all those products gets to be quite a chore. Most of the time, I'm content to pamper myself with all those steps. I find it therapeutic and enjoyable. But, there are those late nights and harried mornings when I just want to wash my face, slap on some moisturizer and be done.

I heard about Sundari being one of the featured lines on Bergdorf Goodman's new beauty floor. Then, I read about Christy Turlington's creation of the line in January's Glamour magazine. Sundari (a Hindi word meaning beautiful woman) is a small line consisting of products designed to cleanse, replenish and moisturize. When I spotted sundari.com at the end of the Glamour story, I felt the urge to surf.

Sundari is based on Ayurveda. This is an ancient Indian theory that says your skin is a direct reflection of your physical and mental health. I can certainly identify with that. How many of us can honestly say that illness and stress have never affected how our skin looks? You choose Sundari products based on your "dosha." Your dosha consists of your combined mental and physical characteristics. There are three doshas - Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth). You answer a few questions at Sundari's website to determine your dosha. I am Kapha, which coincidentally, corresponds with my astrological sign, Taurus. I guess there's no denying my earthiness. The following products are recommended for Kapha skin:

Lemon Cleanser for Kapha Skin ($25 for a 4 oz. tube)
A heavy duty exfoliating cleanser containing visible bits of powdered apricot seeds. Although it is pretty abrasive, I've used Lemon Cleanser repeatedly and have not experienced any breakouts. It works well to remove makeup, dirt and oil from my face, leaving it soft and comfortable.

Essential Oil for Kapha Skin ($60 for a 1/2 oz. bottle)
This is the replenish step. There are three different blends of oils for each dosha. The Kapha blend consists of Sweet Almond, Safflower, Lavender, Rosemary, Peppermint, Basil and Cloveleaf oils. It also contains Vitamin E (Tocopherol) and Retinol. As an oil phobe, I was skeptical of applying oil to my oily skin. Surprisingly, a few drops smoothed over my face absorbed very quickly without any residue. This blend is supposed to purify, balance and nourish an oily complexion.

Cornflower Oil-Free Hydrator for Kapha Skin ($52 for a 1.7 oz. jar)
A basic moisturizing lotion for oily skin. It does not contain any AHA's or BHA's, just botanical extracts. I really like this moisturizer despite its hefty price tag and lack of newfangled ingredients. It compliments the cleanser and essential oil steps and leaves my skin soft and hydrated. When I use it at night, I wake up grease-free and smooth. It also provides a good base for makeup.

In addition to the three basic steps, the following products are also suggested for Kapha skin:

Gentle Gel Cleanser ($28 for a 4 oz. tube)
A basic cleansing gel containing aloe, chamomile, witch hazel and other botanicals. It foams up nicely and removes makeup without stripping moisture, but $28 is a steep price tag for this product. Save your money.

T-Zone Control Treatment ($30 for a 1 oz. bottle)
A clear alcohol-based gel that does double duty as a blemish treatment. It contains Salicylic Acid, Camphor, and Witch Hazel. As far as oil control treatments go, this is pretty unimpressive. As a blemish buster, it works fairly well, but not worth the cost for such basic ingredients.

Overall, the Sundari products recommended for my dosha are nothing more than basic skin care. They are pleasant to use and I like them, but this line is not for the budget conscious. If you feel like splurging, look for them at Bergdorf Goodman, sundari.com and Sephora.com

Happy Shopping!

review: 01/00