June 2007
BEST
RIMMEL Eye Magnifier Eye Opening Mascara ($6.49 for ) is said to "lift lashes vertically by 70%" thanks to its Verti-lift brush, but who wants lashes that go vertical when the most attractive look is a panoramic sweep of softly fringed lashes? Luckily this mascara gets very close to that goal, and quickly, too. Working the rubber-bristled brush through lashes produces minor clumping, but that’s the tradeoff for the dramatic results you get with this mascara. The clumps smooth out quickly and more strokes separate lashes nicely while increasing thickness and, to a lesser extent, length. Yet another top-notch mascara from Rimmel! Find It

WORST
TRACIE MARTYN Amla Purifying Cleanser ($65.00 for 1.7 ounces) almost leaves me speechless—not only for its outrageous price, but also for its nearly do-nothing formula, which has minimal cleansing ability and maximum potential for irritation from spearmint, lime, and “other essential oils.” Alma extract is the second ingredient, and you may be wondering what that is. Also known as Indian gooseberry, it has a variety of anecdotal uses, mostly when consumed as part of the diet. There is no research pertaining to this extract’s benefit for skin, but it is suspected to have antioxidant and antimicrobial activity (Source: www.naturaldatabase.com). Even if those traits were proven beyond a doubt, their benefit in a cleanser is minimal because they are just rinsed down the drain. This barely passable cleanser is an inane waste of money.