First up is a 1 ounce (30ML) jar of Vitamin C Potent Topical Cream. Packaged sleekly, you wouldn’t know that this product isn’t a luxury cream. I’d really love to use it myself but half four containers of moisturizer that I have to use up yet. That probably won’t happen for two years. LOL

Natural Skin Care Shop describes this moisturizer as:

High Potency Vitamin C Complex in a luxurious facial moisturizing cream. Formulated with concentrated anti-oxidant nourishment for a youthful and radiant glow. Enriched with unusually high levels of Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Jojoba oil for unsurpassed moisturization and skin nourishment.

Along with this, I’ll be shipping to the winner a 4 ounce jar of Micro Derm RX, an Alpha Beta microdermabrasion cleanser. I’m not quite sure where this one came from or who makes it as I can only find information about it on Overstock.com. The product description there describes this product as:

• Exfoliating facial scrub deeply cleanses and purifies skin
• Formula refines skin surface and stimulates collagen
• Microderm treatment combines Alpha and Beta hydroxy acids with microdermabrasion crystals for smooth, radiant skin

Either of these products would be great to keep your skin healthy, smooth and young looking and feeling. The estimated retail value of these product is around $100 and one lucky winner will receive both of these items, in their unopened packages. I only hope hat you can love them more than I do.

To enter, complete the following by May 9th. Post a separate comment for each entry:

• Tell me why you’d like to win these products – Mandatory
• A comment letting me know if you follow me on Twitter – @anaesthetic
• A link to a blog post about this giveaway (must include a link to the direct post)
• Add my blog to your Delicious favorites (leave a link to your profile)
• Add this post to StumbleUpon or Digg
• A link to a Twitter post about this giveaway (once per day) such as: Win $100 of skincare products from @anaesthetic. Visit Reviews by Cole to enter the #giveaway: http://reviewsbycole.com/2011/05/put-your-best-face-forward-giveaway/ Ends 5/9

Good luck!

All you need is 4 weeks, 3 steps, 2 times a day for results than can be seen in 1 day!

It’s a little trite and we all know that good commercials do not a good product make (as Yoda would say) but I decided to give the Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser a shot as I’d tried and liked the Acne Cleanser. Actually, I debated between the two as they are the same price and size but opted to go with the Exfoliating Cleanser because it smells a little less atrocious. They both smell bad, however. this one just smells a little.. less bad.

Actually, this one smells almost exactly like Clean and Clear’s Deep Action Cream Cleanser which I have used on and off. It’s exactly the same texture and colour, too, except for one thing. It’s a thick white gel with some exfoliating beads thrown in. My experience with most exfoliating products is that they tend to be based aruond those scrubbing beads with a thinner cream wash “in between”. The overall texture tends to be runny and gritty but, if you’ve used exfoliating products, you know this isn’t a bad thing. So I was a little surprised. I’m pretty sure the exfoliating cleanser has the same tingling properties as the Deep Action Cream Cleanser.

They are slightly different products, however. The cream cleanser’s active ingredient is Salicylic Acid and the exfoliating cleanser’s active ingredient is Benzoyl Peroxide. It worked pretty well for the first three weeks or so. I felt clear and oil-free after washing and experienced no irritation. I had perfectly clear skin but now I’ve got a blemish or three (and what bad timing, right?) so I will probably finish up my tube of Ambi and then head back to this. I think my skin quickly becomes used to products so constant rotation is much.

Nevertheless, CLEAN&CLEAR Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser worked very well initially and is a strong product like others in this line.

Like other Suave bodywashes, it comes in a big 12oz bottle (I actually got one of those bottles with a few extra ounces) and it lathers super easily. It lathers super, super well and I am constantly having to remind myself not to use so much because of that. It’s a little difficult because the weight of the body wash really forces out more gel than I want it to. It would be nice to have this in a pump bottle or with a smaller nozzle.

Still, at far as affordable priced body washes go, Suave knows what they’re doing and the Wild Cherry Blossom bodywash is another hit, just like their Sweet Pea and Violet body wash.

When we needed more hand soap in the bathroom, I did what I usually do which is to sniff about a million different bottles before I find something I like. I saw that Target had Method products in stock and they came in some really cute teardrop shaped bottles. I chose the Water Flower scent which is a pretty shade of pink. The website boasts that these hand washes are “non-toxic [and] triclosan-free.”

What I think is unique abut these products is that instead of buying a replacement bottle when it runs out, you buy replacement soap in a pouch. Method describes their refill pouches with the following:

It turns out this pouch uses 83% less plastic than a rigid PET bottle. Not only that, but it takes less energy to produce. And that’s better for the planet and you. Plus, a pouch makes refilling your hand soap more fun. So go ahead, hug me, squeeze me, never let me go.

Which means not only that I’m doing a favour for the earth but for my trash as, unfortunately, I do not have readily available recycling.

To top it off, Water Flower is a great floral scent which is not overpowering. The hand wash itself isn’t drying and has not other ill effects. Overall, I think this is a great product and I will definitely look into other Method products.

Helpful Hint: Method doesn’t just make hand wash (although you can also get it in foaming). Try their body washes, fabric softener, lotions, omop with biodegradable wet and dry pads and home scents including aroma rings and icnense.

So I picked up the Pure Seduction “exhilarating” body wash and was excited to try it out. Since I had enjoyed all the scents before, I thought any would work and the Casaba Melon,Plum, & Freesia scents seemed like as good a choice as any. It was pricier than most body washes and smaller as well but it was on sale from the price marked on the shelf.

I must admit I was disappointed when I finally used the body wash. I had smelled the lotions and the body wash didn’t smell exactly the same. In fact, compared to the lotion, the body wash almost smells bad. Although the Pure Seduction body wash smells nice, it didn’t smell as great as I was expecting.

Scent aside, I gave it a try. I was disappointed at the body wash. It didn’t feel especially silky and it didn’t lather well; I have to use quite a bit because of this and the bottle is quickly emptying.

Admittedly, my skin smells rather pleasant afterward but it doesn’t feel especially soft or silky and it sometimes a bit oily. Pure Seduction body wash also doesn’t seem like it does anything for body acne.

Overall, this seems like a body wash that is purely cosmetic, without offering a lot of benefits to the skin. For its price, I would expect something that works a bit better, lathers easier and lasts more as well as a product that leaves my skin not just pleasant smelling but soft.

I’m willing to try other Secret Garden products but I’ll be sure to smell the specific product first!

I shouldn’t have. I was sorely disappointed for this product. Though it claims to be for combination/oily skin, my skin became much more greasy after use. My acne also flared up. My face felt rather disgusting.

I’m not sure if Olay Deep Cleansing Face Wash was so drying that my face recoiled by going overboard with oil or if it just failed to cleanse my skin of oil but, either way, I was left with unpleasant skin.

I’ve been trying to Olay Deep Cleansing Face Wash Combination / Oily Skin up as it’s a rather large tube and I don’t want to be wasteful but it’s taking quite some time and every time I switched back to Olay, my break faces out and becomes covered in Oil again.

Perhaps I just need a different product or Olay Deep Cleansing Face Wash is a poor representation of Olay products but, either way, it can be improved.

I’ve used many lotions, as most females have, and have found that while some may smell great, they tend not to do a good job. Conversely, if it does a great job, it probably smells medicinal and disgusting.

However, Suave skin therapy Advanced therapy moisturizer has a pleasant but serious smell and does a great job. I’ve always had extremely rough and dry feet so I originally purchased the Advanced Therapy lotion for there and I noticed a huge difference!

Suave’s lotion claims it isn’t greasy and they come true. It moisturizes your skin deep without leaving residue and don’t be fooled by that pleasant smell. It’s neither fruit nor flowers nor baby powder. It’s something else. Almost medicinal yet strangely pleasant and elegant. Your nose won’t be offended but your mind knows it does the trick!

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for a powerful lotion, this is it!