Splurge of The Week

You might not have heard about light therapy within skin care, and so I thought I'd shed a little light on the subject. (Zing! Tip your waitress, try the veal!) In simple terms, light therapy — also called phototherapy — uses different wavelengths of light to combat acne and stimulate collagen production. That might sound like bunk, but it's not. The FDA approved blue light therapy for acne in August 2002.

Of the available at-home LED devices, most cost around $250 to $400. ANSR, at $159.95, is a less-expensive version that uses both blue and red light to treat acne. ANSR sent a kit for me to try, and I didn't have exceedingly high hopes. The kit comes with a cleanser and day and night creams that have salicylic acid, so I figured that ingredient was the secret to any sort of acne-battling power. To find out how it worked, read more

Leonor Greyl Masque Quintessence ($137.50 for 7oz) is the only hair product I've seen come in one of those cubic cartons where the top and sides lift off to reveal a heavy-duty glass jar, sitting firmly on a built-in platform, much like being presented with an engagement ring, but the only commitment you're making is to spending a fortune. Careful opening it, though — the texture is not as thick as products like Terax Crema or Kérastase — lest you spill roughly $25 worth of it on the sink (like I did). The instructions say to smooth it on sparingly, so I did, focusing on the roots and ends of my hair. The scent has notes of Mock Orange and Linden, which is strong but pleasant.

Forty years ago, before most products claimed to be "organic" or "natural," Leonor Greyl started a line of products including ingredients like Wheat Germ Oil. The large line now has many almost unusual products, like a milky banana shampoo (Lait Lavant à la Banane), and an anti-dandruff shampoo including "propolis combined with a cocktail of botanical active ingredients [to] prevent the development of microbial flora and itching sensations."

To find out how I liked Masque Quintessence, read more

Hey, have you heard? We're in an economic crisis. Since everyone's watching her dollars, I present a new feature: Splurge of the Week. Instead of talking about pricey products throughout the week, I'll highlight one dream item worth trying if you hit the lotto, stumble upon a few bills lying around, or know a generous gifter.

This time around, it's AB Happy Feet. This $95 jar of pretreated pads does an amazing job of transforming rough, hoof-like feet into soft, smooth, baby-like ones. It's loaded with a hefty dose of glycolic acid to eat away dead skin, but you won't feel any sort of nasty stinging. Use it at night before bed, massage feet with lotion, slip on some socks, and each morning you'll have softer skin. It's like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but for feet.