love your skin

In the dead of winter, it's hard to find products that soothe your skin. For me, it was always a challenge to find a gentle cleanser that still gets the job done. That's why I was ecstatic when I came across an innovative collection of products from Ole (pronounced ooh-la) Henriksen. Owner and founder of Ole Henriksen Face/Body day spas in Los Angeles, London and other major cities, Henriksen used his degree in cosmetic chemistry to create a skincare line designed to nurture, soothe, comfort, smooth and transform (Renee Zellweger, Charlize Theron, Jessica Alba and Julia Stiles are all fans). I have to admit, he did have to win me over though. The first product I tried was the On The Go Cleanser (7 oz; $21) for normal/combination skin. While I loved the fresh, citrusy scent (thanks to a healthy dose of vitamin C), I thought it left my skin feeling dry. But I didn't give up. Next I tried the Apricot Cleansing Lotion (7 oz; $21), a rich, creamy, comforting cleanser for dry/sensitive skin--and I was hooked. The lightweight lotion felt super-soft and emollients like avocado, sesame and apricot oil left my skin feeling smooth and clean. I followed it with the Nurture Me ($40) soothing cream for sensitive skin or rosacea. The scent conjured up memories of St. Joseph's Baby Aspirin, probably because it's packed with vitamins, so it's obviously good for you. By now an avid OH fan, I have also fallen for the New Beginning Scrub ($24), a smoothing and oxygenating exfoliant with tea tree oil as well as the Sheer Transformation ($45) silky restorative cream which also targets uneven skin tone. I haven't tried the new African Red Tea products (www.olehenriksen.com) yet but they're next on my list. Stay tuned...