While packing for our trip to Hawaii we filled a 26″ rolling suitcase to max capacity with beauty products. As our husband and children watched in disbelief, we reassuringly explained that the products were for Makeup Bag research and did they seriously think we would bring everything but the kitchen sink if it weren’t for work?

As it turned out, our father’s condition was worse than we thought leaving us with little time for product testing. We did, however, have time to wash our face every day with the new La Mer The Cleansing Foam which has quickly become our new best friend.

Unlike our favorite Shiseido Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam, the La Mer The Cleansing Foam is nearly scent-free and full of calming marine extracts.

The rich lather is full of sea algae fibers to boost the foaming action, and contains an exclusive combination of jade and pearl powders along with La Mer’s unique magnetized tourmaline and Deconstructed Waters to improve cleansing performance.

Just three days after receiving our sample, we noticed our skin looking visibly brighter and more refreshed.

The only downside to this amazing cleanser is the price: at $65 it’s more than twice the price of our Shiseido Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam. However, for brighter, clearer skin—we’re willing to forego a few soy lattes (okay, EIGHT of them) and spring for the best.

As a frequent traveler and longtime fan of MD Skincare, we absolutely must have this MD Skincare Team Travel Set:

This handy travel set contains 3o application packettes of MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, a 1.7 oz. All-in-One Facial Cleanser with Toner and a 1.7 oz. Hydra-Pure Firming Body Cream—all favorites of Makeup Bag.

Also included is a stacked set of 6 refillable pots—ideal for daytime moisturizer, night cream, sunscreen, foot cream, and pretty much every other lotion and potion on our bathroom counter.

The best part? This $116 value is available for only $78. (Come to think of it, we might need two!)

Having a beauty website gives us access to hundreds of products to sample, test and review. This means we rarely get to the bottom of a product—even if it’s in our main rotation of favorites.

Last week, we reached full blown panic mode when we realized our most most most favorite cleanser Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam was nearly down to its last drop. After a small-ish tirade threatening to hurt any person at Makeup Bag headquarters that even thought about getting near our last drops of cleanser, our five-year-old quietly pointed to the beauty closet (it’s really an armoire, but calling it a closet sounds much more legit) where several backup options patiently wait.

Knowing that we have full bottles of perfectly fine cleansers, but instead choosing to wrestle with our nearly-extinct Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam—squeezing the plastic tube down like a smashed soda can to get every last remnant—tells us that this, dear readers, is the perfect cleanser.

The much anticipated Crema Nera skincare line by Giorgio Armani Beauty is now available on their website.

Crema Nera offers three cleansers (mineral cleansing balm, mineral cleansing milk, and mineral cleansing foam), a toner, and a regenerating cream—the prize product in this collection.

We’ve yet to be disappointed by Giorgio Armani Beauty—hopefully Crema Nera is no exception.

See the entire line at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com.