I find it curious that a cosmetic company would call itself "Urban Decay" while other firms tout impressive, enticing, or feminine names (Christian Dior, Hard Candy, LaFemme). I did a little research. Urban Decay has its own unique philosophy: "PRETTY. TWISTED. URBAN DECAY . . . It's always beautiful, but sometimes unusual. It's makeup for individuals, not for those who want to blend in. Have fun, experiment, toy with a look that borders on dangerous . . . Be who you want to be today, just don't be average." Their slogan? "We live like this." I began to understand - cosmetics for the "chic," skin care strong enough to remove serious pollutants, oil, and city grime.

My experimentation was with their skin care line. UD doesn't take the incredibly gentle approach to skin care that Joey New York does, and some items (particularly the cleanser and scrub/mask) are not for those with sensitive skin. But I found their get-down-to-business items effective and unique.

I began with the Zen Cleanse 2-in-1 Cleanser and Toner ($16). Packed with natural ingredients such as rosemary, peppermint, aloe vera gel, green tea, chamomile, witch hazel, and marine collagen, it is an invigorating way to purify. The fragrance was a little pungent, but my face did not feel taut afterward, just fresh. I like to use a separate toner between cleansings, especially during the summer. Unfortunately, they don't offer one.

Next came one of my favorites: Magic Mud 2-in-1 Pore Cleaning Mask and Scrub ($16). This dual-purpose creation is an excellent way to quickly clear skin of "congestion" by using it as a scrub, or take your time to deep-clean by letting it dry to obtain its full benefits. It contains clay, Russian silt, Vitamin C, lactic acid, and algae extracts. It's unfortunate that more cosmetic firms don't offer such a two-fold item. The results are outstanding.

I was wary of the next product, Detox Cocktail ($16). I thought it was hype, but it's actually unlike anything I've ever tried. It's a most refreshing, lightweight layer of Vitamins A, C, and E, green tea, seaweed extract, aloe, allantoin, and chamomile, which calms and neutralizes irritating environmental effects on skin. Completely oil-free, no shine is left behind. A small amount is applied under moisturizer. It still allows your skin to "breathe."

The Detox Cocktail led me to Urban Decay's moisturizers. I used both their Guardian Angel oil-free and regular moisturizers ($20 each). Much like the Cocktail, there was no oil with either product, yet my skin immediately felt softer, velvety. These emollients work hard to produce visible results and hydration and provide UVA and UVB protection (so important in the summer). All-natural ingredients such as tomato extract, algae, soy protein, and Vitamins A, C, and E heal and guard. These are moisturizers which can be used by any skin type, with no fear of pore-clogging or oily breakthrough. They're definitely products which I will use, and I highly recommend them for anyone else.

Urban Defense products are available at Sephora.com and department stores like Nordstrom.