This month we’re loving H20 Plus skincare products.

Typically we like our cleanser rich and creamy, but when temperatures soar a gel cleanser can be delightfully refreshing. The H20 Plus Marine Cleansing Gel is an oil-free water-based gel that foams away makeup, oil and impurities and leaves behind a super fresh scent.

Also in this collection is the Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment , an oil free gel moisturizer that doubles as a hydrating mask. It’s a bummer there’s no SPF in this because it feels so cool and refreshing on the skin—perfect for the summer months.

Rounding out the regimen is the Night Oasis Oxygenating Rejuvenator , a night cream with ingredients like sea fennel, sea lettuce and wakame (sea kelp). Extremely light and hydrating, this night cream delivers fantastic results. After several days of use our skin felt (and looked) revitalized.

H20 Plus Oasis skincare line can be found at H20Plus.com and at the H20 Plus free-standing stores .

Much like maple bars and House reruns, Kiehl’s beauty products never fail to brighten our day.

We’re especially enthralled with the new Ultra Facial Cleanser and Ultra Facial Toner for their simple, pH-balanced formulas that are gentle yet effective. The slightly creamy gel cleanser lathers nicely and rinses clean, leaving our face feeling clean and smooth. And while toners aren’t usually our “thing,” the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner is alcohol-free and so gentle, it actually leaves us feeling fresh and hydrated without stripping our skin of natural oils. In fact, we don’t think this should be called a toner at all— we vote the label should read: Ultra Facial Cleanser’s Sidekick.

And if Kiehl’s doesn’t go for that, we’ll settle for Ultra Facial Refresher: better than a maple bar.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser and Ultra Facial Toner are available at Kiehl’s counters nationwide and online at Kiehls.com.

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!)