In the spirit of keeping things simple, I decided to try Laura Mercier's new skin care offerings. I'm also a fan of some of her cosmetic items - Secret Camouflage for covering up any unwelcome zits (when are we ever happy to see them?), Secret Concealer, great for covering up any dark undereye shadows and her Amethyst lipstick has always been a favorite of mine.

I had the perfect opportunity to road test the following items when my husband and I recently took a short vacation:

One-Step Cleanser ($38 for an 8 oz. bottle)
This is a very basic, no-nonsense formula that will completely remove any and all makeup and dirt from your skin. It also works well when used in the shower. Nothing fancy or ground breaking is in this cleanser - just vitamin E, collagen and witch hazel listed among its garden-variety ingredients. It will not irritate sensitive skin and it does not contain any comedogenic ingredients. Honestly, the only thing off-putting was the very medicinal scent. Other than that, I was very pleased with it.

Moisturizer Cream with SPF 15 ($38 for a 2 oz. jar)
I was very happy using this cream during the day and at night. It wore well under my foundation and did not make my skin oily. The built in sunscreen is a convenient feature. Remember - I'm in a "less is better" frame of mind right now! Again, this cream contains nothing comedogenic or irritating. Sodium hyaluronate, vitamins C & E and emu oil are listed among the ingredients.

Firming Eye Cream ($32 for a 1/2 oz. jar)
According to the package, this eye cream was made to blend with Laura Mercier concealers, to give them a little more "slip". I prefer to use it at night for more moisture over the Moisturizer Cream and just use Secret Concealer by itself under my eyes during the day, when needed.

Lip Silk ($14 for a 0.4 oz. tube)
When have you ever known me to pass up trying a lip product of any kind? This is a vitamin E and Alpha Hydroxy lip balm. Great as a lipstick base and also as a clear gloss. It kept my lips very soft and moisturized.

If you travel frequently or are looking for a basic line of skincare products, Laura Mercier Skin Care certainly fits the bill. You can find her complete line of cosmetics and skin care at select Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales stores. You can also visit lauramercier.com to order products. The site is one of the more user friendly, informative beauty sites on the Internet.

Happy Shopping!