Once again, MAC surprises me! After the debut of both “Naturally” and the liquid-like metal eyeshadows from their “Metal-X” collection, the 77-Mineral Complex that made Mineralize makeup so good for your skin debuts as a skincare collection!

This new collection features MAC’s  ionized Super-Duo Charged Water technology, a nourishing regime to cleanse, hydrate, condition and recharge the skin. The entire 5 piece collection includes a Mineralize Charged Cleanser for $ 23.00, MAC Mineralized Charged Water Moisture Gel for $ 37.00, MAC Mineralized Charged Water Moisture Eye $ 35.00, MAC Mineralize Charged Water & Body for $ 32.00 and MAC “Mineralize” Charged water for $ 22.00.

These products make my skin feel refreshed, hydrated and supple. Barely a scent to any of these products, you concentrate on the cool feeling and instant hydration of the skin upon application. I reviewed and did a makeover with their Semi-Precious and now I’m looking forward to using both this new skincare line as well as the makeup as my beauty   regimen.  The line can be found at MAC counters or online at www.maccosmetics.com.

So tell us, what do you think about the line?  Will you be hauling it home?  Leave a comment below to let us know.

- Nicole Gordon Levine

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There have been several skincare product launches recently that work to tackle this problem including Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator, and Elizabeth Arden Prevage Clarity Skin Tone Corrector. But when I heard about the new Rx For Brown Skin line, I felt I should take a closer look.

Rx For Brown Skin is as line of skincare products that address the needs of women with brown skin. Their philosophy is that brown skin is special and requires a customized care solution. They consider brown skin to range from skin tones as fair as Jennifer Lopez or Lucy Lui to as deep as Eve or Queen Latifa.  When we asked the brand founder, Dr. Susan Taylor, what the real difference is between her line and other mainstream lines on the market, her reply was that “it’s developed and tested only on women with brown skin”. So given that I’m a woman with brown skin, I was ready to test drive these products.

I began using 2 of the products in the line:  the Rx For Brown Skin Gentle Cleanser and the Naturally Flawless Advanced Botanical Brightener.

The Gentle Cleanser contains their special Bright Skin Complex which is a blend of – A blend of Soy, Pomegranate and Hyaluronic Acid. Soy to specifically target uneven skin tone. Pomegranate is a powerful antioxidant to help protect against free radicals. And, Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin for a softer, smoother texture as well as Green Tea to protect from environmental toxins.

I love the fact that it cleans my skin but doesn’t over-dry my skin like others that I’ve tried.  The only down side is that it did not generate a lot of lather.

Naturally Flawless Advanced Botanical Brightener claims to brighten your overall compexion, and to fade the discoloration of scars, dark spots, etc. After using it for about 4 weeks, I’m began to see some improvement.

Before Using Rx For Brown Skin

I had some acne scars on my chin before I started using the product.  And after a few weeks, I did see some fading of them.

After Using Rx For Brown Skin For A Few Weeks

Overall, I liked both products and look forward to continue using them to see if they can visibly diminish my dark spots …. for good!

The Gentle Cleanser retails for $26.95.  And the Botanical Brightener retails for $34.95. And both can be purchased on www.RxForBrownSkin.com.

So tell us, would you give the Rx For Brown skin line a try?  Post a comment below to let us know.

- Jessica Washington

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Claims like these beg to be tested, so I pulled my hair back and got to trying it. The first step of the regimen is to cleanse with the Pore Clarifying Cleanser, a scentless, white cream that comes in a tube. It contains salicylic acid but is not at all drying. In fact, it leaves my face feeling soft and moisturized without being greasy. The next step is to treat and prevent by applying the Skin Clearing Treatment. This is meant to control breakouts and prevent future ones. It also contains salicylic acid but is surprisingly gentle. Instead of the strong scent and tingling burn I usually associate with salicylic acid, it feels like a regular, unscented moisturizer. On to the final step, which is to hydrate and renew with the Complexion Renewing Lotion. The lotion is sheer, and its purpose is to reduce spots and redness. During the day, I add the UV Moisturizer with SPF 15 to the regimen. It’s light, oil-free and protects against UVA and UVB rays.

After a month of daily use, the results have been mostly positive. My skin has genuinely become smoother. The small bumps on my forehead, that were not visible but could be felt, have disappeared. Dry patches I tend to get on my cheeks have evened out. Moisture levels are just right and oiliness has been reduced (but hasn’t disappeared). However, the protocol wasn’t effective on my monthly breakout. It didn’t do much to prevent or shorten the length of it. I found myself turning to a non-regimen spot treatment for the flare-up. In spite of this, I would recommend these products. The skin balance improvement is tangible and consistent, making it worth trying.

The regimen retails for $29.99 and can be found at your local drug stores.

And don’t forget to check out our review of the best acne treatments of the year, HERE.

- by Michelle Kuo

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This is a dermatologist tested, no-fuss facial wash. It comes in a handy pump dispenser, which can be “locked” for travel convenience, and claims to help “visibly reduce redness and pimple size overnight.” The pearlescent steel-blue liquid contains 2% salycilic acid and claims to be formulated to work continuously through the night to fight acne when your skin is actively in the process of cell regeneration and renewal. Makes sense to me, but does it work? I waited for my skin to get moody and took it for a test run.

The first time I massaged this wash into my face, I was expecting it to be highly astringent. Though the scent is purely chemical (no flowery or fruity scents here), it is surprisingly gentle. The suds rinsed clean, minus the squeaky-tight feeling most acne washes leave you with, and left my skin soft. I went to bed without moisturizing for maximum effect. Surprisingly, my skin did not dry out nor did it overcompensate by cranking up the oil production.

The next day, my face felt good. The wash managed to do what it says it will and kept developing breakouts at bay, reducing redness and pimple size. It wasn’t all gone, but the difference was clear. It gets bonus points for being gentle enough to use on a regular basis. In my book, it’s an effective acne-fighting product.

Disclaimer:  Note that this was tested on a mild, small-scale spot breakout. Results might differ with bigger, more aggressive breakouts.

Check out our review here on the Best Acne Treatments of the Year.

- by Michelle Kuo

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The very nanosecond I opened the small pot of Noxzema Original Deep Cleansing Cream, I rode a wave of nostalgia straight back to my sophomore year of high school. My acne had just started to make its presence known, and my mother handed me a jar of Noxzema cream, saying that she had used it in high school and she thought should give it a try. I lathered up with the heavy  cream formula in a fervent attempt to banish my new unsightly spots, not knowing that they would become my on-and-off companions for the next ten years. I liked the strident scent and the tingles that almost stung; like Vick’s Vapor Rub and Icee Hot, I new Noxzema worked because I could feel it.

I moved on to more other acne-fighting products in my ever-present search for better skin, but when the rebranded Noxzema came across my virtual desk, I stopped to give the product another once-over. Nostalgia is all well and good, but does this old standard hold up when compared to newer, brighter products? I’m happy to report that after a week of using the original Noxzema cream, my most recent flare-up of acne cleared away. My fiftteen-year-old self worried over the cream factor of the Noxzema products, but my twenty-seven-year-old reality appreciated that the cream didn’t dry out my skin.

The newer products of the line don’t slouch in efficiency either. The Noxzema Clean Moisture Makeup Removal Cloths removed my heavy-duty waterproof mascara – the only wipes I’ve ever found that tackle makeup as promised. For those who still shy away from heavy cleansers, Noxzema Clean Blemish Control Daily Scrub leaves the tingly eucalyptus oil behind in favor of salicyclic acid. Unlike its cream predecessor, this scrub gave my skin a tight, clean feeling that would have done any zealous high schooler proud.

Thanks to this new incarnation, it seems Noxzema will stay with us for another fifty years, it seems. I wish nothing but clear skin for my as-yet imaginary children, but it’s nice to know I’ll be able to hand them a jar, or a bottle of scrub, and say, “Your grandmother used this. And oh, yeah, me too . . .”

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- Katharine McKenzie

The Pearl Cleanser is infused with Citric Acid and additional antioxidants and both, according to Skincareresourcecenter. com, aid in stimulating collagen production and protecting the skin against free radicals and additional “harmful environmental factors.” It’s gentle enough for sensitive skins, and it gently removes makeup and other impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oil and water balance. Formulated for the most sensitive skin types, this non-alkaline facial cleanser is perfect for consumers who are allergic to fragrances or for those who have normal to combination skin. An added bonus is that it’s gentle enough to remove the most stubborn mascara; and I wear tons!

We’d love to hear from you, beauties! What’s your favorite go-to cleanser? If you don’t have one, my recommendation would be to try the EGF Reactivator Pearl Cleanser ASAP!

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-        Nicole L. Townsend

We asked you if you could have any type of beauty expert (skin, hair, makeup artist, etc) cornered in an elevator for 30 minutes, what kind of expert would you want and what would you ask him or her?  Many of you had questions for a dermatologist so we brought in our resident dermatologist, Dr. Ellen Marmur to help.

What is the best skin care advice that you give to your patients?

My best skin care advice to my patients is to simply simplify! Know what skin does, how it works, and it’s basic architecture first. Then shop for your skin care products knowing more than anyone selling them so you chose based on good knowledge over marketing.

What is the best way to treat very sensitive skin that needs both early anti-aging intervention AND treatment for breakouts around the jaw line and chin? Thank you in advance!

In my book you can read my tricks for how to do exactly what you asked. Sensitive skin does not disqualify you from anti-aging products (yeahhh!!) but you need to use them wisely. First, be sure your sensitivity isn’t actually an allergy—ask your dermatologist for an easy, painless patch test. Then try using Epiduo or for your breakouts twice a day to the spots as necessary. For anti-aging try a product with a retinol. Refissa CR (prescription) is new—it has a medium strength retinoid plus a strong emollient to prevent dryness and irritation of the skin. Give it a shot!

What is the best cure for under eye bags? Collagen? – Vanessa M.

Dear Vanessa—Big bags or little bags? Right under the lashes? Or down above the bony rim of the orbit? Some bags can be camouflaged by using fillers around them. Collage is no longer used. The best filler for this area is called hyaluronic acid. It is considered an off label use and should be injected only by core cosmetic physicians—dermatologist, plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and ENT surgeons. But it’s absolutely beautiful when done for the right person. If you have bigger bags under your eyes, you may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery called blepharoplasty. Ask your dermatologist for advice, but don’t worry, there are ways to fix the bags! Otherwise, topical creams may not be satisfactory to you so save your money for the right procedure.

I recently noticed that the pores on my checks that are closer to my nose are more prominent than the rest of my face (they are on both sides of the face). Can you advice what I can do to minimize or shrink my pores? It is more noticeable when I use powder foundation, the skin looks dry and rough.

Help! I have great skin and now I am starting to freak out.

– Kristina

Dear Kristina, Did you know that these may not be pores but my actually be hair follicles?? The density of hair follicles is greatest in the midline of the face—the nose and the medial cheeks. Tiny, almost invisible hairs grow there and and often we think they are pores. The good news is you can definitely minimize the pore size by doing several things. Exfoliate twice a week with a creamy exfoliator, use a retinoid at night, be excellent with sun protection everyday, moisturize with your favorite gentle creams twice a day, and try the pore strips (Biore)! They will remove any protein, oil, or dead skin from the top of the skin and allow the pore or opening of the follicle to constrict tightly. The Rolls Royce of treatments you can do for large pores is a series of Fraxel laser resurfacing procedures. This will plump up your collagen and build up your elastin—both have the effect of tighter pores and a smooth complexion.

I am constantly trying to create that perfect dewy look that all the celebrities seem to wear so effortlessly. While I have tried many of the suggested techniques (mixing a shimmer in with moisturizer or foundation, cream blush, etc), I am really searching for a few all-time favorite products that can help one achieve such a glamorous glow! What specific beauty finds would you recommend?

– Jody

Dear Jody—This is actually easier than it sounds. Rule #1—simplify. The last thing you need is dry, irritated, over-exposed skin when trying for the dewy look. Rule #2—exfoliate, moisturize, protect with sunblock. Rule #3—use self tanner (Clarins is a favorite.) Rule #4—use a serum. Serums have illuminators in them that give a dewy sheen. Rule #5—keep your make-up light and sheer (try Laura Mercier for the natural look. She has wonderful sand colored eyeshadows and bronzers that may be great for you!)

Do fat cells create oilier skin? In other words, is it true that the fatter you are the oilier your skin?

- Suzette

Dear Suzette—it is sooo not true that more body fat causes oilier skin! Oil glands are very much genetic and hormonally stimulated. Yes, hormones are related to obesity, but there is no data to support that oily skin is more common in people with higher percentage of body fat. If you want help with oily skin, your dermatologist has great tricks for you. Accutane (very low dosage) helps, Plexion pads twice daily are great, and oil free mineral makeup is good for oily skin types.

How do you treat milia? When I look it up it seems more common for newborns but I am referring to milia associated with acne. Any reason why it develops? Thanks!

- Yvette

Dear Yvette—milia with acne are actually called closed comedones. They are little cyst under the skin. Open comedones look black because the air oxidizes the protein in the cyst thus the dreaded blackheads. Comedones are partly due to a problem with skin turnover, meaning retained skin on the surface, leading to clogged pores and cysts. You should see your dermatologist first to confirm this diagnosis. Then you should come up with a simple routine that can protect, enhance, and troubleshoot! My favorite new product for your issue is Epiduo cream (prescription). Try to do 2 chemical peels a year and use non-comedogenic products to maintain your perfect skin!

I’m confused about chemical sunscreens vs. physical sunscreens. Are you better protected from sun damage when you wear a broad spectrum chemical sunscreen or when you wear a physical sunscreen? For maximum benefits, should you layer physical sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen? Are there products on the market that combine both types of sunscreen in one product? Thanks for your help!

- Vanessa Eliana Rivera

Dear Vanessa, There are chemical sunscreens and physical sunblocks and yes, use them in combination for the best protection. Sunscreens are chemicals that intercept the UV ray and turns it into heat so it evaporates off the skin’s surface without penetrating and causing havoc. But sunscreens get used up the more sun it converts, like gasoline in a car runs out the more you drive. So reapply every 1-2 hours. Physical blockers literally rest on top of the skin and block the sunlight from penetrating through them. Zinc and titanium oxides are two examples. They don’t run out or get used up like sunscreens but they wipe off due to water or sweat, so they need to be reapplied every 1-2 hours, too. Each chemical has it’s strengths and limitations so a combination is the best way to go. Unless you invent the ideal sunscreen with one molecule that perfectly protects the skin from the sun, use a combo of sunscreen and sunblock.

When should you start using more aggresive treatments like AHA’s and peels?

- Marisa Bradford

AHA’s and chemical peels are superb in young people with acne, or very, very old people over the age of 30 who need a little help with pigmentation from hormones or fine lines. Peels can be very light to very strong and I love them, but only let a very experienced doctor do them for you.

I need advice for Baby Boomer skin! How can I reduce the signs of aging skin?

- Barbara Moon Webster

Ok, so baby boomers are in their 40’s and 50’s right? And therefore, your skin aging is showing up as brown spots, wrinkles, and perhaps a little laxity of your cheeks. This is a great question and I wrote an entire chapter on it in my book (SSB). Essentially, your routine must focus on protection, moisturizing, and trouble shooting. Protect with sunscreen every day of the year, moisturize twice a day, and trouble shoot away those signs of aging. Laser or peel off the brown spots and wrinkles. Use a retinoid to prevent new ones. And simply, you are good to go!!!

How does one get rid of whiteheads for Baby Boomer Skin? Mostly cheek bones area?

- Kim Snyder

Kim—I have those too! They are called milia—little, white, closed cysts that are just under the skin. If you have just a few, then yes, professional extraction is the easiest thing. If you have a lot, then you need a master plan. Exfoliate daily with a gentle exfoliator (like Sanitas lemon creamy exfoliator), use a retinoid at night (the new Refissa cream looks amazing, it’s a prescription), have one good chemical peel with your doctor or a Fraxel resurfacing treatment, and be sure to remove make-up from your skin at night (Clinique’s milk creamy make up remover is nice!)

These can result from sun damage, make up, or injury to the skin. Good luck!

I have a question strictly about redness in the skin. I have redness more around my nose and on my cheeks. Is there a treatment I can do to get rid of it?

-Stephanie

Hi Stephanie—all redness is not created equally. If you have any other issues like flakey skin, pimples, or symptoms like itching or burning along with the redness, you should ask your dermatologist to you make a diagnosis. Rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and allergic or irritant contact dermatitis can look red. Sometimes—rarely—it can be more serious. So have that redness checked. But, yes! If it is just lucky red skin, then we can treat you with intense pulsed light and pulsed dye laser! Some people uses anti-inflammatory creams like Finacea or metrogel to help reduce redness too. I’ve had good luck using Fraxel laser to reduce redness as well—which also replaces sun damaged skin with new, healthy skin, and helps tighten, smooth, and lift the skin.

Ellen Marmur, M.D., the author of Simple Skin Beauty: Every Woman’s Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy, Gorgeous Skin wants to know YOUR candid questions.

Dr. Marmur is the Chief of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and specializes in skin cancer surgery, cosmetic surgery, and women’s health dermatology.

Therefore, I’ve had to resort to sensitive skin treatments, and one of the crown jewels during my search was the Sensitive Skin Line from Votre Vu Skincare.

The Attentive Facial Cleansing Milk ($29) is one of the most gentle, almost baby safe creamy cleansing milks I’ve tried. It contains safflower, sunflower seed oil and Roman Chamomile extract to remove any impurities without chaffing or reddening your skin with the abrasion of Brillo Pad, so you can rest easy.

I’m also crazy about the rich, creamy and organic Attentive Night Cream for Sensitive Skin ($54). It is creamier than whipped cream, and includes borage and tamanu oil in addition to shea butters blended with milk proteins and algae extracts. It is more soothing than a cup of peppermint tea with honey (although if you have a cuppa after your moisturizing routine, you’re surely bound for some soothing z’s).

- Charu Suri

Natural plant extracts and Dead Sea minerals all make their appearance in this little green, almost cubist bottle. But there’s hardly any nauseating fragrance, and the skin is left moisturized as well as clean, which is a lot more than we can say for our drugstore soap we tried the other day.

Another product that wowed us from Kathy Ireland Skincare is the Mineral Scrub Mask ($19.99). It aims to shrink pores and all you have to do is to commit for 15 minutes per week (do you think you can handle that, commit-ment phobes?). They’ve even gone and milled Organic Peach Kernel to a fine powder to provide smooth as silk exfoliation. Okay, while the particles are not as fine as sand (you WILL feel them churn against your skin), the results are impressive.

Just go buy some, okay? You’ll thank me later.

(Sabrina from AOL, myself, and PJ Gach from BettyConfidential)

Honestly, I was thrilled to hear about the steam activated cleanser. I always clean my face in the shower (and according to Biore, about 60% of Americans love to, as well). The steam cleanser is oil free and contain tiny SteamActif beads. The aim is to – naturally – dissolve all your makeup, oil and make your skin cleaner and more radiant than the Swarovski crystal.

Well, I tried this steam activated cleanser immediately when I got home, and my skin indeed felt super clean without feeling too taut. I also loved the cool mint extract in the product (no terrible tingling – just a zingling feeling). It also has Green Tea extract which, as you obviously know, has antioxidant properties. I’m kind of married to it already!

Now, the other product is already the love of my life. I’ve never been obsessed with any makeup removing towelette, mostly because it rarely is able to remove the layers of eye makeup that I religiously wear each morning (think two coats of Rimmel or Maybelline mascara over a layer of primer, an eyeliner and eye shadow to boot). But these Makeup Removing Towlettes really do the job, and studies have proven they don’t really leave a nasty residue on your skin like some other brands. Take a look at the before and after (after just two swipes):

Best of all, the towelettes are made from 100% renewable resources, like cotton, but they are tough enough to even catch a kitten if you were to make a trampoline out of them.

The event, called ‘Party in the Shower’ was a lot of fun, and I got to catch up with some of my fave peeps and see some of the cool lighting in the studio (the chandelier icon is all just an optical illusion).

But the Biore products are no mirage – they definitely work, so check them out in your drugstores or online right now!