Doll Face Beauty Cocktails Products Reviewed :

Nightcap Serum	Knockout Serum	Burlesque Cream
Perpetual Moisturizer	Bees' Kiss Mask	Foxy Lady Mask
Shanghai Toner	Honeymoon Cleanser

Beauty Cocktails is a line of all-natural skin care products that take classic cocktails as their theme (each product is named after one). As you can tell from the ingredient lists below, the line is one of the few that actually tries to restrict its ingredients to those that are truly "all natural". They are true to their word, foreswearing many artificial ingredients that other "natural products" use. Lots of lines claim this, but when you look at their ingredient list, it's lead by stuff like "alkyl polycrosspolymer" and "phenoxycinnamite". Not so Beauty Cocktails. The main drawback to this hard line on purity is the lack of sunscreens, since, apparently, the Beauty Cocktail bartenders feel those ingredients are not natural enough. The line is not cheap - but it's solidly mid-priced. Some of their products are more than worth it, and others aren't, as you'll see below. This is a new line that I have only seen on sale in stores at Fred Segal in LA. But their products can be purchased from their website at http://www.beautycocktails.com.

Guide To Ra(n)tings:

Nightcap Evening Beauty Serum
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1 fl oz	Price	$50	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Hawaiian red marine algae, laminaria digitata, blue green algae extracts, aloe vera gel, seaweed essential oil, glycosaminoglycans, honey, soy bean protein, green tea, thyme, sea buckthorn, gotu kola extract, horsetail extract, vitamin E, essential oils of lavender, tea tree, clary sage and geranium.

This is a serum that you are supposed to use at night - under your moisturizer. I found, however, that I didn't really need a moisturizer after using it. It is not at all greasy, but after it sank in my skin didn't feel at all tight or dry. After using this for a few evenings in a row, you will notice that your skin has a healthy glow and is incredibly soft! And all without acids or retinol. Highly recommended. It's pricy, but it works. And the aromatherapy provided by the ingredients is heavenly.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
4.0	4.0	3.0	4.0

Knockout Vitamin Enzyme Lotion
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1 fl oz	Price	$50	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
1 oz. Organic apple juice, meadowfoam seed oil, green tea, thyme extract, sea minerals, grape seed extract, honey, sorbitol, organiz pectin, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, xanthan gum, glucose, glucose oxidase, lactose peroxidase, oat beta glucans, horsetail extract, coltsfoot extract, acetic acid, methylparaben, propylparaben, grapefruit essential oil, tea tree essential oil.

This is a serum for the daytime that you are supposed to use before your day moisturizer. The serum is supposed to exfoliate and calm your skin using enzymes, vitamins and herbal extracts. I had trouble warming up this one, to tell you the truth. After absorption, it left my cheeks feeling both dry and sticky at the same time. Not at all a pleasant sensation. So I couldn't recomment this for people with dry skin. Perhaps if you had really oily skin it would work like a charm. But it's not for me.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
2.0	1.0	2.0	2.0

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Burlesque Renewal Cream
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1.7 oz	Price	$45	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Lavender extract, meadowsweet extract, calendula extract, honeysuckle extract, angelica extract, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol, aloe vera gel, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, alpha hydroxy multi-fruit complex, kukui nut oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, soy protein, green tea, algae and kelp extracts, locust ben gum, panthenol (provitamin B5), essential oils of ylang ylang, rosewood and geranium, anti-oxidant complex of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, methylparaben, propylparaben.

This is a facial cream containing both alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids for deep exfoliation. These acids are also buffered by many wonderful emollient and soothing botanical and herbal extracts and essentail oils. Normally, I won't go near AHA products because they are too harsh for my delicate skin. Burlesque, however, was very easy to tolerate. After using the cream for a week, my skin was noticeably smoother and more even-toned. If you have wanted the exfoliating magic of AHA-BHA products but haven't been able to tolerate them, you might have success with Burlesque. I did, and that's a nice surprise.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
4.0	4.0	3.0	4.0

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Perpetual Rejuvenating Moisturizer
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1.7 oz	Price	$45	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Deionized water, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera gel, emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerin, stearic acid, shea butter, oat beta glucans, lecithin liposomes, panthenol, sodium pca, locust bean gum, sorbitol, soy protein, chamomile, calendula, rose bud, St. john's Wort, sea mineral extracts, ascorbic acid, grapefruit seed extract, anti-oxidant complex: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E allantoin, rose hip seed oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, essential oils of lavender and lemongrass..

A very emollient cream for people, like me, with dry skin. The list of ingredients is, as usual for Beauty Cocktails, impressive for their purity and effectiveness. The cream contains a full complement of vitamins, minerals, soothing botanicals, moisturizers and anti-oxidants. It has a fairly strong lavender scent, which doesn't bother me, but it might some of you. Though emollient to the touch, the cream sinks in pretty quickly and doesn't leave a greasy residue. But it is a very effective hydrator. I can wear it all day and my skin still feels hydrated at the end. Be aware, however, there is no sunscreen in this cream, so if you use it during the day be sure to add one over it. My only hesitation about this product is its high price. Basic moisturizing shouldn't cost this much, and, indeed, there are creams from other manufacturers (Clarins, Samuel Par, Dermalogica, etc.) that will do the job just as well for about ten to twenty dollars less. So I'll ding it for being overpriced; otherwise, it's a nice treat for your face.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
4.0	4.0	2.0	3.0

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Bees' Kiss Nourishing Mask
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1 oz	Price	$40	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Oatmilk, our unique complex of green tea, thyme, sea minerals and grape seed extracts, jojoba and safflower oil, aloe vera gel, soybean protein, honey, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol, white willow bark and licorice root extracts, lactic acid, xanthan gum, methylparaben, propylparaben.

This is a mask for dry or distressed skin. It's full of incredibly soothing ingredients like oatmilk honey and white willow bark. The mask has sort of a gel-cream consistency and goes on very easily. It will remain on your face without drying, so don't keep touching your face. After fifteen minutes, wash it off. You'll find your skin is very well moisturized, and, as an added bonus, incredibly smooth. .I've used this make a lot during the winter. No, LA doesn't get cold cold, but it does get cold, and with the heat on my skin turns into parchment. Bees Kiss has been a great relief for me this season. A very impressive product.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
4.0	4.0	3.0	4.0

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Foxy Lady Vitamin C Mask
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1 oz	Price	$40	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Whole cranberry juice, acerola berry juice, honey, vegetable glycerin, tapioca powder, green tea, cucumber, marshmallow & chamomile extracts, grape seed oil, soy protein, agar-agar gum, white willow bark, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), glucose & glucose oxidase & lactose peroxidase, vitamins A & E, methylparaben, propylparaben, essential oils of lavender, sweet orange & juniper berry.

Foxy lady is a vitamin C mask intended to brighten up dull or tired skin. It's made with lots of cranberry juice, and contains as well ingredients to take the sting out of all that vitamin C (green tea, cucumber, chamomile, etc.). When I put this on it tingled a little bit, but in a nice way, not in that alien-blood-eating-its-way-to-the-bone feeling you get with some treatments. The feeling subsided and after ten minutes, when I rinsed it off, my skin was indeed perked up and on high beam - without redness or irritation. In effect, my skin was tweaking. This is a great treatment to use just before you go out to some big, fun event like the White Party or the funeral of someone you've always hated. An excellent mask all around.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
3.0	4.0	3.0	3.0

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Shanghai Conditioning Toner
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	4 oz	Price	$30	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Extract infusion of elderflower, calendula, orange blossom, horsetail, and chamomile, aloe vera gel, sodium pca, almond glycerides, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), sea algae & kelp extracts, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol, lecithin, cucumber extract, essential oils of geranium, rosewood, ylang ylang, and clary sage, anti-oxidant complex: vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, methylparaben, propylparaben.

This is the Beauty Cocktail toner for dry or normal skin. I find it...heavenly. The ingredient list tells it all. Lots of soothing and mineralizing herbals, along with plenty of moisturizers. This toner leaves my skin feeling clean and toned - but with no dryness or tightness. This is a favorite toner of mine for the summer, when my skin, though dry, is at its oilest. Shanghai toner is a quiet delight to add to your skin care regime. Highly recommended.

Ra(n)tings

Honeymoon Cleanser
author: Niall | date: Dec 2001

Size	1 oz	Price	$34	Where	Fred Segal, online
Ingredients:
Extracts of orange blossom, rose bud, chamomile, horsetail and lavender, vegetable glycerin, kukui nut oil, macadamia nut oil, glyceryl stearate, aloe vera gel, stearic acid, jojoba oil, sorbitol, avocado oil, cucumber extract, allantoin, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), borage oil, essentials oils of rosewood, geranium and ylang-ylang, anti-oxidant complex: vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin C, methylparaben, propylparaben.

This is the Beauty Cocktail cleanser for dry skin. But I think they have spent too much time worrying about not drying your skin out and not enough time about cleaning it. It's a nice thick lotion that cleans, sort of. Unfortunately, it didnt' leave my face feeling clean. Instead, it actually felt a little greasy. I don't even wear make-up (well, at least not when I'm testing products), and it didn't clean my face. I can't imagine what it would be like if you were trying to clean off make-up as well. Given the high price, I have to rate this product a well-intentioned failure. Not up to the standards of the rest of the line.

Ra(n)tings

Effectiveness	Pleasure of Use	Value	Overall
1.0	2.0	1.0	1.0

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take me home, bud!