I recently tried Urban Decay's Urban Defense Skincare line, which I picked up from Sephora.com (amazing, because they seem to be out of stock on this, and a LOT of items, constantly!). UD sells a great little starter pack, in both normal to dry and normal to oily formulas, which includes travel sizes of their Zen Clenser + Toner, Detox Cocktail treatment, and Guardian Angel lotion with SPF 15, all for $25. I choose the Normal to Dry combo, as my skin's oil production dwindles to almost nothing in the Arctic Tundra of Ohio (although the only difference between the Normal to Dry and Normal to Oily Combos is the moisturizer - the other two products are the same in either formulation). I also picked up a full-sized bottle of their Magic Mud Scrub + Mask, which is a 3.4 ounce bottle for $16.

I started by cleansing with the Zen Cleanser + Toner. Zen is a really nice gel formula that lathers slightly, and is non-drying and suitable for all skin types. It contains all sorts of lovelies: rosemary, aloe vera, and vitamins, just to name a few. I found it removed all my makeup easily (and it didn't sting my eyes) and left my face feeling fresh and soft, not dry or tight. I also love the exhilarating smell! A great product if you're looking for a new cleanser to try.

I followed with their Detox Cocktail, which is unlike anything I've ever tried. It's a liquid-lotion formula that you swab over your face after cleansing, much like you would a toner, but it doesn't strip skin, nor does it moisturize all that much. Detox Cocktail is basically a gentle formula with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential oils meant to calm your skin and combat environmental factors like pollution and free radicals. It also gently mattifies skin. All in all, it's a pretty neat formula that does help your skin look fresh, and add a nice glow, but I initially had a hard time rectifying an annoying problem; have you ever tried to spread lotion across your face with a cotton pad? It t'aint easy! I found that the cotton kept leaving little "fuzzies" on my complexion. The way around this? Use cotton pads that are tightly woven, as opposed to cotton balls.

I then followed up with their Guardian Angel SPF 15 Moisturizer. This is a super, lightweight day formula that moisturizes with a demi-matte finish. I like it because it doesn't look too dry or too dewy - it is a nice balance of both. Like the other UD products, it has a wealth of essential oils, extracts and vitamins. I had no break out problems with this formula, and must say that it is definitely something I'd purchase again! If you need a heavier moisturizer, this formula isn't for you, but I think makes an especially nice canvas for makeup!

Lastly, because I love to exfoliate, I had to try the Magic Mud Pore Clearing 2-in-1 Mask and Scrub. It's both a mud mask that can be left on for up to 10 minutes and a scrub you can use as you would any exfoliant. The ingredient list is impressive; clarifying Bentonite clay, 10,000 year-old Russian silt, Seaweed Extracts, Lactic Acid, Vitamin C, and touches of Tea Tree and Peppermint Oils, just to name a few. It also contains gentle, spherical microbeads, which won't exacerbate acne by scratching or tearing pores. I've used this product both ways, and it does a great job of vaccuming pores, and firming and refining my skin without being overly drying. Another great product from Urban Decay!

Urban decay products are available from Urbandecay.com, as well as Sephora.com.